You can say one thing about the Pack's 2015 draft: it was unpredictable. It was kind of goofy. Unconventional. A bit intriguing. OK, that's four things.

Thompson wasn't in need of immediate starters this time around. He could afford to go after guys that he projected big upside, and that's what he did. He also took versatile, accomplished athletes who will provide an immediate impact on special teams--a unit that was miserable last year and one that has lost a good amount of players this offseason.

You could argue that the only starting position up for grabs is the other outside corner, opposite Sam Shields. Casey Hayward will try to prove he can play there, but there's no one else on the roster. Clay Matthews, for now, is the presumed starter at inside linebacker along with Sam Barrington. It would be nice to move him back outside, but I like the idea of him inside--you can move him outside on passing downs.

So it would make sense for Thompson to grab a taller, fast corner early, to compete with Hayward. Instead, leave it to Ted to take a guy at #30 who was literally not on any of our radar. What are the chances of that happening? The only defensive position you figured he'd avoid is safety, a position that was as bare as a Vikings trophy case a year ago, but is now robust. And that's where former Sun Devil Damarious Randall was listed, as a safety, his position in college. But he came to Arizona State from junior college as a corner--the team needed help at safety, so he switched. Thompson says he will be a corner so we understand why he made the pick.

Randall shot up draft boards in the final week--you never really know why that happens. Peter King had him going to Philly at #20. While a bit undersized at 5'11", Randall is fast (4.41) and as former baseball player in junior college (till an arm injury caused him to focus exclusively on football) he will have the spatial instincts to be a good defensive back. Most likely he'll be the Pack's nickel corner, if not on opening day then at some point before the weather turns. He could also step into the punt returner role on day one. A few scouts have called him a bigger Honey Badger. I'll take that.

As the second round got started, most of us watched to see if any of the inside linebackers would be there at #62. As expected, they pretty much all came off the board--all except TCU's Paul Dawson, a tackling machine who didn't like to attend meetings, pay attention and listen to his coaches. Thompson elected to pass (Dawson went to Cincinnati in the third) and instead decided to select another guy we've never heard of.

I'll say this, no one in the league is beating the Pack in a pickup basketball game. Quentin Rollins was a four year starter and point guard at Miami (Ohio), before a Ravens scout suggested he give football a try in his final season. 12 games later he was the MAC defensive player of the year, picking off seven passes, breaking up nine more and collecting 72 tackles. He showed amazing instincts for the position and was not afraid to hit. There will be a learning curve here, but barring injuries, the Pack can let him soak things up. There is a lot of upside here and he plays a position where you always want to be deep.

OK, so it's getting late on Friday night and you figure Ted has this diamond in the rough inside linebacker he's going to pluck at the bottom of the third round so we can all go to sleep easily. Nope, he nabbed former Stanford WR Ty Montgomery, a guy that ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd has been talking about for weeks as his sleeper in the draft. We know this, Ted loves him some pre-weekend wide receivers. In 7 of 11 drafts he's picked one in the second or third round.

Montgomery is like a well-fed, larger version of Randall Cobb. He's a guy who looked like a top ten pick after his freshman year with Andrew Luck. As the QB play fell off there, so did his production. But Montgomery is another potential playmaker, one who can line up anywhere on the field, including as a returner: he was second in the nation as a kick returner and averaged 20 yards per punt return.

Now you can wring your hands about the linebacker position--more on that in a moment--but when you're as close as the Pack was to the Super Bowl, you look at where you're lacking and where they're lacking most egregiously is on special teams, where they ranked dead last in 2014. These three picks should provide an immediate infusion to those units. It will likely take Cobb off the punt return unit, which I think we'd all like to see.

Ted went into the final four rounds armed with six picks and here's where we figured he'd grab a couple of linebackers, a couple of linemen, maybe a TE and a RB. The fourth round pick was textbook: Jake Ryan was a big time player and outside linebacker at Michigan until an ACL zapped him of much of his quickness. His play inside last season opened eyes and Thompson pounced on him. A two-time team captain, Ryan is tough, smart, instinctive and can tackle. The Pack think he can be a three-down player. If he can step right in, Clay can move back outside.

And then it got really interesting. What? The Pack traded up in the fifth round? Way up in the fifth round? Who could they be looking to grab? Another linebacker perhaps? A running back they fell in love with. Or maybe a QB who thought he'd be the third or fourth guy off the board, one who figured to know by Friday night where his career would start?

When Brett Hundley continued to plummet, you know he was silently steaming--having been told by his advisors that he was a second rounder, or at worst a third. A 3-year starter at UCLA, Hundley had a so-so junior year and many scouts, while marveling at his measurable and athletic ability, wondered about his decision-making, accuracy and converting from a spread offense to a pro style one. He's built like Colin Kaepernick and can run like him too, gaining more than 2,500 yards on the ground with 30 TDs as a Bruin.

Many Packer pundits are scratching their heads over this pick. Not me. First, it cost the Pack virtually nothing. They surrendered their 7th round pick near the bottom of the draft, knowing they had three 6-rounders and that whoever they might have taken would likely be available as an undrafted free agent.

Hundley will get to sit and learn at the teats of McCarthy, Clements and Rodgers and as a #3 guy this season will be an NFL redshirt. If he can become a legit backup in a year or two, we may not step out onto the ledge if Rodgers goes down with an usury. Not to mention, the Pack may find a team willing to part with a high draft pick if he looks like the real deal. I love this pick. Handley comes in with a chip on his shoulder. Even if it's a 50-50 proposition, I'll take my chances in the fifth round any day of the week.

In the sixth round, the Pack opened with John Kuhn successor Aaron Ripkowski, a fullback out of Oklahoma. You gotta figure either the kid unseats Kuhn this season or he's a practice squad guy with a chance to take over in 2016. He's a former walk-on, so he's worked his butt off to get where he is. He's another guy who could earn a roster spot on special teams--played all four units in college.

Ted finally returned to defense with his next pick. Christian Ringo has the right name to wear Green and Gold. I don't see a future Hall of Famer, like Jim Ringo, but this Ringo was super-productive at Louisiana-Lafayette, with 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss last season. At six feet, he's an undersized defensive end, but he has a high motor and figures to have a good chance to push some of the up and down guys ahead of him on the depth chart (I'm talking to you, Datone Jones).

The Pack finished up with an athletic tight end, another former basketball player. Kenner Backman is unusual as a new breed tight end in that he likes to block as well. He joins an uninspiring unit that is looking for someone to step forward. Rodgers and Quarless will be counted on to take charge this season but Backman could take the vacated Bostick role. Another possible special teamer, or practice squad guy this season.

The Packers won't likely be getting A's from the draft experts because there is a lot of the unknown with some of the guys Thompson grabbed early. He seemed very pleased to get the guys he got in the first three rounds in particular. He's built up enough of a draft cache to earn the benefit of the doubt.

When you're as talented as the Pack, a top three Super Bowl favorite, you can grab guys at the bottom of rounds that you think have big upside and roll the dice a bit. I think Ron Zook and the special teams coached are ecstatic with the players they will be adding.

In a few years, we'll find out just how special this draft class might really be.

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Comments (11):

For those of you that are interested Aaron Rodgers will be a contestant on Celebrity Jepordy on Tuesday, May 12 at 4:30 pm on NBC Channel 11 in the Twin Cities. GO AARON GO !!

OLD SOUTH SIDE GUYon May 11th, 2015 at 05:14pm

As a follow up to Aaron Rodgers appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy. Aaron was the winner....beating his two opponents for the day and winning $50,000 for his charity...a Midwestern Charity for children. Way to go Aaron !! Go Aaron GO !!

OLD SOUTH SIDE GUYon May 12th, 2015 at 05:32pm

Ted Thompson, while he may have his critics, knows exactly what he's doing when it comes to deciding when to re-sign a free agent or to let him walk. Check out the article on allgbp.com pertaining to Thompson's "money-ball" approach to roster management. It's a great read.

Bill, the voice of reasonon May 14th, 2015 at 04:43pm

Christian Ringo is from Louisiana-Lafayette.

Blakeon May 3rd, 2015 at 11:11am

It was an interesting draft by Thompson and company. I'm not one for grades, but if there was one to give, it would be incomplete, got to see what happens with these players.

Jim from www.thefantasygreek.comon May 5th, 2015 at 09:13pm

"Thompson wasn't in need of immediate starters this time around. " REALLY? Please aware me as to the following: starting ILB's? (LOL @ paying Matthews $10+ million a year to play there and Barrington is garbage), starting CB opposite Shields? (Hayward has been invisible the last 2 seasons), any actual functional DE's on your entire roster? (Datone continues the Thompson bust tradition with Perry, Sherrod, Raji, and Harrel, and the other DE side is even worse). Thinking you didn't need to obtain starters in this draft is almost as foolish as predicting a 6-0 start to the season......

Caneon May 5th, 2015 at 12:06pm

Datone Jones is entering his 3rd year, and has improved each season. If he goes down in flames this season, go ahead and call him a bust. But he won't be. Barrington isn't garbage, because there's no proof to the contrary. Raji and Perry aren't busts, either. Harrell may have washed out, but he was a UFA, so nothing lost there. Jake Ryan could be considered a starter...a need directly addressed by the draft. You want busts? Try Troy Williamson, Erasmus James, and Cordarrelle Patterson...Matt Kalil could be joining that elite group sometime soon if he doesn't get it together, and quick. Don't get me wrong...the Vikings have had some good drafts in the last few years, but when you're picking that high for that long, you better not be screwing up. Most any team in this league would trade rosters with the Packers in a heartbeat. 6 consecutive playoff seasons, 4 consecutive division championships (and counting), and 1 Super Bowl championship pretty much say it all.

on May 6th, 2015 at 09:58am

One more bust to add to the list...Christian Ponder.

on May 6th, 2015 at 10:00am

Larry, I've been around...just busy as hell the last few weeks. So busy, in fact, that the two previous comments ahead of yours were mine - I was in too much of a hurry to sign 'em. :-) I'll pay more attention next time.

Bill, the voice of reasonon May 8th, 2015 at 01:59pm

OSSG and Voice where are YOU? ok, you guys picked Cobb, how about me picking Ripkowski before draft, almost feel over when i saw the name, he will make the team , i love the way he plays, special teams for sure. i think TT did fine again, everyone always give him a c or b grade, then 2 years later they say he had a b or A grade when they actually play the games.i do like the 1st t picks, but hate not picking Diggs as i predicted for us, vikes got em, i will say it right now, he will do more and be better than Montgomery, hope i'm wrong. i hope ryan lb,can at least play on some packages and become the next John Anderson for us. now we wait and see. give me your thoughts boys. Go Packers

larryon May 8th, 2015 at 11:20am

Larry....like the Voice I have been busy. As to the draft Malcom Brown was available with the first pick as to what I mocked and would have preferred him....but TT is the master. The breakdown as to offensive and defensive players went about like I predicted. TT knows that this is a league where you have to have a QB and speed and athletic players. We have the QB in Rodgers and he went for athletic fast players at the top of the draft which will help our depth and improve more importantly our special teams. Montgomery shold be a nice pickup to replace Cobb on returns. I think Ryan has a chance to start immediately at inside LB and Randle will eventually start in place of Hayward at the corner about mid season. Hundley is a nice project as a development QB. I like his physical and mental makeup. Collins will need more experience after playing only one year in college but has great athletic ability and will contribute. I saw one national publication that had the Packers rated with the 28th ranked draft class. I highly doubt that....but time will tell. GO PACK GO !!